Gladius Scabbard Connection to Balteus

[sulla felix]

Help!

Having settled on a two belt set up has anyone got evidence, theories, reconstructions etc. of how the gladius scabbard is connected to a belt?

[Tarbicus]

Do a Search on these three words:

gladius belt attached

Make sure 'Search for all terms' is on.

[sulla felix]

Thanks Tarbicus.

Having completed the search and read the threads the answer seems to be nobody knows!

[Tarbicus]

Yup, that seems to be the case, but at least you have a few options I suppose.

[sulla felix]

Seems likely it was from organic material, given the lack of any archaeological evidence. One or two hints of small buckles associated with belts and scabbards. Guess I'll go with the diagonal leather strap approach.

[Tarbicus]

I think one of the questions to ask is whether you think a Roman soldier would want to unbuckle his belt to take off his scabbard? If no, then the buckled cross-straps make sense, but if yes then stitched cross-straps would be fine.

[sulla felix]

I think I remember reading that a gladius from Herculaneum was still "wrapped" in the belt which might imply that the scabbard was "permenantly" attached to the belt. Of course, it might also imply that the owner just decided to take belt and scabbard off together. I do like the idea of the buckle though. Just seems a little more practical than having a knotted thong!

[Tarbicus]

I do like the idea of the buckle though. Just seems a little more practical than having a knotted thong!

Ah, but the buckle's a weak link - that gives way then bang goes your sword :wink:

[Primvs Pavlvs]

Wonder if they were every suspended from "pugio hangers"?

[Celer]

Salve

Crispus showed me an extract from an article about the sword and scabbard found at Vindonissa. A small isolated buckle was found close to the back of the scabbard, and one interpretation of this is that the buckle belonged to a strap that went through the four suspension rings in an 'X', so the belt could then be fed through the 'X' securing the scabbard.

One possibility.

Vale,

Celer.

[sulla felix]

Tarbicus,

Ah, but the buckle's a weak link - that gives way then bang goes your sword

Is this not the same problem with a gladius scabbard on a baldric?

[sulla felix]

Celer,

Crispus showed me an extract from an article about the sword and scabbard found at Vindonissa. A small isolated buckle was found close to the back of the scabbard, and one interpretation of this is that the buckle belonged to a strap that went through the four suspension rings in an 'X', so the belt could then be fed through the 'X' securing the scabbard.

I think that this is the option I will follow. Any idea where I can find this article?

[Peroni]

I used to wear the two belts with my mail.

I used pugio hangers to suspend the sword.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b242/ ... hewall.jpg

[Primvs Pavlvs]

How does that work for you Adrian? I have thought about doing that myself.

[Gaivs Antonivs Satvrninvs]

I hate to say that makes the most sense when we know that has nothing to do with Roman thinking. However since the pugio was done that way it only seems right you COULD hang a longer pugio(gladius) in the same fashion. Adrian, it looks really good, too.